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Reps ask FG to Constitute NDDC Board

By Gift Chapi Odekina 

The House of Representatives at the plenary on Thursday, urged the Federal Government to adhere to the provisions of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act, 2000 by constituting the governing board of the Commission.

The House also urged the Federal Government to adhere to the provisions of Section 4 of the Act by considering Delta State which is next in alphabetical order for the position of the chairmanship of the board.

It further urged the Federal Government to adhere to the provisions of Section 12(1) of the Act by considering Ondo, Edo and Imo member States which in this order are next in quantum of production of 5th, 6th and 7th for the positions of the Managing Director, Executive Director, Finance and Administration and Executive Director, projects of the board respectively.

The resolutions were sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Kolade Victor Akinjo (PDP, Ondo).

Moving the motion, Akinjo said that great injustice has characterized the composition of the board of the NDDC as regards the offices of the Chairman, Managing Director and the two Executive Directors; 
Akinjo said that despite Sections 4 and 12 of the NDDC Act, the positions of the Board Chairman, Managing Director and the two Executive Directors are solely occupied by Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers and Cross River, leaving out Ondo, Imo and Edo States respectively.

The lawmaker further said that in the order of quantum of production, Ondo which is 5th, Edo which is 6th and Imo which is 7th are yet to occupy the positions of the Managing Director and the two Executive Directors; 

He said, ”Some of the allocations of key board and management positions of the Commission from 2013 to till date, includes, 2013 -2015 Chairman – Sen. Bassey Ewa-Henshaw (Cross River) MD, Barr. Bassey DanAbia – Akwa Ibom, EDFA, Henry Ogiri – Rivers and Engr. Tuoyo Omatsulu – Delta. 2015 -2016 (Acting) MD/Sole Administrator, Mrs Ibim Semenitari – Rivers. 
”2016 -2019 Chairman, Sen. Ndoma Egba – Cross River, MD, His Excellency Nsima Ekere – Iborn, EDFA, Mr. Derek Mene – Rivers and EDP, Engr. Samuel Adjogbe – Delta. 2019 – 2019 (Acting), MD, Prof. Nelson Braimbraifa – – Bayelsa, EDFA, Chris Amadi – Rivers EDP, Engr. Samuel Adjogbe – Delta. 2019-2019. Acting MD, Dr. Mrs Enyia Akwagaga Elegima – Rivers. 2019-2020 Acting MD, Or Gbene Joy Nunieh – Rivers, EDFA, Chief Ibanga Basse Etan – Akwaibom, Dr Cairo Ojougboh Delta. 2020- Acting MD, Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei, Bayelsa, EDFA, Me Effiong Okon Akwa- AkwaIbom, 2020 to date MD/Sole Administrator, Mr Effiong Okon Akwa- Akwaibom.”

Akinjo opined that the situation is not only a worrisome violation of the letters of the Act that established the Commission, but a suppression of the statutory rights of the remaining member states to these positions.
He added that if urgent steps are not taken to reverse the trend, it will not only be an extensive discrimination against these remaining member States, but further engendering a discriminatory practice impeding the participation of these member States in managing the affairs of the Commission formed to cater for them.

Adopting the motion, the House mandated its Committee on NDDC to ensure compliance.

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